Hinges



April 20, 1965 G. svoBoDA ETAL 3,179,281

HINGES Filed Oct. 2l, 1963 Mom/Va BY ww /FM ATN United StatesPatent O 3,179,231 HINGES "1 George Svoboda, Western Springs, and Robert K. Jacobsen and Morris Nozette, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Bradley Industries, Inc., Franklin Park, lll., a corporation of illinois Filed Oct; 21, 1963, Ser. No. 317,620 6v Claims. (Cl. 2241-31) This invention relates to improvements in hinges, and more particularly to hinges formed integrally with box sections and molded of plastic or like material.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide improved molded hinge means formed integrally with box sections, all molded of plastic material or the like, and in which the hinge elements Vmay be readily snapped into interlocking relationship.

Another object of this invention is to provide box sections with hinge elements so constructed that both box sections are identical and may be formed in identical molds with each section forming either the top or bottom of the box.

This invention is an improvement over the invention disclosed in applicants Patent No. 3,061,137 issued on October 30, 1962, in that the outermost spherical pivot of each box section is positioned between a pair of spaced lugs on the opposing box section and wherein the spherical member is coniined in parallel extending slots or recesses in said spaced lugs. This construction provides increased stability and support and is particularly applicable for boxes or containers of the larger size.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of the box or container looking at same from the rear and showing the hinge members interlocked with the box in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a view taken on lines 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view taken on lines 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view partly in section `taken on lines 4 4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a View partly in section taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view partly in section showing the hinge members before they are snapped into locking position, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged View taken on lines 7 7 of FIG. 1.

The box sections 12 and 14 are of identical construction and are each of molded material, such as plastic or the like. Since both box sections are identical the sections are all formed in an identical mold and each section may be either the top or bottom of the box. The' hinge elements of one box section are arranged to engage the complemental hinge elements of the other box section in a positively locked hinging arrangement.

Section 12 has a rear wall 16 and extending from said rear wall adjacent one end are a pair of hinge elements generally indicated by the numerals 18 and 20, said elements being of spherical' or ball shape. Adjacent the opposite end of the box or section 12 are two spaced hinge elements indicated by the numerals 22 and 24, and sometimes for purposes of distinction referred to as lug members.

The spherical hinge elements 18 and 20 each includes a rearwardly extending portion 26 and 28 respectively, extending from the rear wall 16 and which spaces the spherical members 18 and 20 from said rear wall 16. The spherical portions and the rearwardly extending portions are all integrally molded with the section 12. Likewise, the hinge members 22 and 24 at the opposite end of the box section extend rearwardly from the rear wall 16 of the box section by rearwardly extending portions 30 and 32 respectively, and same are integrally formed with the box section.

The outer hinge member 24 is provided with a continuous groove -or recess 34 on its inner face, extending vertically and parallel with the rear wall 16. The concave recess or groove 34 is continuous and uninterrupted throughout its length, as best seen in FIG. 5, and engages the spherical member 18 onthe opposite box section 14.

The hinge member 22 is provided with grooves or recesses on its opposite sides. One of said recesses or grooves 36 extends horizontally or parallel with the top plane of the section of the box and a groove or .recess on the opposite side, designated by the numeral 38, extends vertically or parallel with the groove or recess 34. It will 4be noted that with respect to the recesses 36 and 38, one recess extends at right angles to the other. Each of such grooves or recesses is continuous and uninterrupted throughout its respective length.

The inner hinge member 22 of box section 12 is in engagement with the spaced hinge members 18 and 20 of box section 14, with the outwardly facing horizontally extending recess 36 engaging the spherical member 18 and the inwardly facing vertically extending groove or recess 38 engaging the spherical hinge 20.

Since both box sections 12 and 14 are of identical construction with similarly complementary spaced hinge member, they may be snapped into position by Vinterengaging the hinge elements, as shown in FIG. 6, and when thus interengaged the hinge elements will securely maintain the hinge members in a secure hinging position. The front end of the box may be locked if desired by any conventional snap lock well known in the art.

The entire box section 12 or 14 is molded with the hinge elements molded integrally therewith. When the two box sections are of the same depth, as shown in the drawings, one mold may be used for making both sections. However, if one section is deeper than the other then dilerent molds may be required, however, the hinging arrangement remains the same.

It will be seen that the spherical hinge members 18 are each supported between spaced hinge elements 22 and 24 on the opposite box section, thus each end of the box is provided with a hinge element which engages and extends outwardly of the spherical hinge member 18 on the opposite box section.

As shown, the axis of the bearing or engaging surfaces of the spherical shaped members 18 and 20 is substantially in line with the joint line of the box section to insure proper closing of the box. As shown in the drawings, the spherical hinge 2t) is smaller than the spherical hinge 18. Likewise, lug 24 is smaller than lug 22. This is prin' cipally to add to the attractiveness of the structure.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An integrally molded hinge for box sections, each section having a pair of spaced ball-shaped members and a pair of spaced grooved ball-shaped members projecting from one side thereof in transversely alined relation, said ball-shaped members being spaced from each other to receive therebetween a grooved ball-shaped member, one of said pair of grooved ball-shaped members having a `single continuous groove on its inner face for receiving the ball-shaped member of the other box section and the other'ball-shaped grooved member having continuous recesses on its opposite sides with one of said recesses ex* tending at right angles to the other, each of said last mentioned recesses receiving one of the ball-shaped companion ymembers of said pair of spaced ball-shaped members of the other box section, said ball-shaped members and grooved ball-shaped members being arranged so that one of the ball-shaped members of one box Ysection is kbetween a-pair of grooved ball-shapedfmembersvof the from each other to receive therebetween a lug member,

one of said lugs having its inner face provided with a vsocketfandthe other of said lugs provided with a socket yon each of its sides, said last mentioned sockets on each ofthe sides being arranged so that one is disposed vertically andthe `other horizontally, said Vlast mentioned sockets'receiving one of the companion ball-shaped pivots of the said pair. of spaced ball-shaped pivots on the opposite box section,said ball-shaped Apivots `and lugs being arranged so that one ofvvthe ball-shaped pivots of one box section is between a pair of lugs of the opposite box `section and one of the pair of lugs of the opposite box section is between a pair of ball-shaped pivots of the one box section. Y

3. A structure defined in claim 2 in which one of the lug members is positioned outwardly of the ball hinge p member of the companion section.

4'. A structure defined inclaim 2 in which the sockets formed in said lug membersare each continuous and uninterrupted. Y

5. A structure defined in claim 2 `in which one of the pair of ball-shaped pivots is larger than the other.

6. A structure defined in claim 2 in which one of the pairs of lugs is larger than theother.

References Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,570,341 10/51 Hake 220-31 3,061,137 10/62 Svoloda et al. 220-31 THERQN E. CoNDoN, PrfmmyExammer. 

1. AN INTEGRALLY MOLDED HINGE FOR BOX SECTIONS, EACH SECTION HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED BALL-SHAPED MEMBERS AND A PAIR OF SPACED GROOVED BALL-SHAPED MEMBERS PROJECTING FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF IN TRANSVERSELY ALINED RELATION, SAID BALL-SHAPED MEMBERS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER TO RECEIVE THEREBETWEEN A GROOVED BALL-SHAPED MEMBER, ONE OF SAID PAIR OF GROOVED BALL-SHAPED MEMBERS HAVING A SINGLE CONTINUOUS GROOVE ON ITS INNER FACE FOR RECEIVING THE BALL-SHAPED MEMBER OF THE OTHER BOX SECTION AND THE OTHER BALL-SHAPED GROOVED MEMBER HAVING CONTINUOUS RECESSES ON ITS OPPOSITE SIDES WITH ONE OF SID RECESSES EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE OTHER, EACH OF SAID LAST MENTIONED RECESSES RECEIVING ONE OF THE BALL-SHAPED COMPANSION MEMBERS OF SAID PAIR OF SPACED BALL-SHAPED MENBERS OF THE OTHER BOX SECTION, SAID BALL-SHAPED MEMBERS AND GROOVED BALL-SHAPED MEMBERS BEING ARRANGED SO THAT ONE OF THE BALL-SHAPED MEMBERS OF ONE BOX SECTION IS BETWEEN A PAIR OF GROOVED BALL-SHAPED MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITE BOX SECTION AND ONE OF THE PAIR OF GROOVED BALLSHAPED MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITE BOX SECTION IS BETWEEN A PAIR OF BALL-SHAPED MEMBERS OF THE ONE BOX SECTION. 